Petrino famously didn’t tell any of his assistants that he was leaving Atlanta for the head coaching job at Arkansas. On Sunday, Zimmer’s Bengals face a Falcons team that has been almost completely remade since 2007, especially on defense.

Meanwhile, the “gutless bastard” has Arkansas back in the top 25 in college football.

“Woo Pig Sooie!“UPDATE: More from Zimmer, via Reedy: “[Petrino] is a coward. Put that in quotes. He ruined a bunch of people’s
lives, a bunch of people’s families, kids, because he didn’t have enough
nuts to stay there and finish the job. That’s the truth.”

God I hate Petrino… I never hated Arkansas before he went there, but now I root against them every game. Zimmer was much loved in Atlanta though. He did a great job for the Falcons and he’s doing a great job for the Bengals. He’s a real class act.

Yes it is too bad Petrino can coach college ball. (Top 25)
Even more disappointing is, that regardless of that, he can get a job in football.
But I guess the reality is the game is littered with bastards of many types.
But he does stand out in a crowd of MFers.

In the wake of the Vick scandal, I didn’t think Falcons football could get worse. Petrino proved us all wrong. I constantly root for his failure. Even if he wins in football, he’s failed in life. Way to go Zimmer!

Love when Zim gets fired up! He is absolutely 100% correct about Petrino. Here’s more of Zimmers quote:
“When a coach quits in the middle of the year and ruins a bunch of people’s families and doesn’t have enough guts to finish out the year, I’m not a part of it,” Zimmer said. “And you can put that in the Arkansas News Gazette. I don’t really give a (bleep). He’s a coward, he ruined a bunch of people’s lives, a bunch of families, kids, because he didn’t have enough (guts) to stay there and finish the job. And that’s the truth. Most people in football have enough courage about him and enough fight to stick it out and not quit halfway through the year. It’s cowardly.”

Zimmer’s logic doesn’t make sense. What happens if Petrino were fired during or after the season in which he decided to bolt? That’s right – the same coaches would have lost their jobs anyway.
Any coach – much less a low-level coach – in the NFL that believes he’s guaranteed 30 years non-stop employment is an idiot.
Probably best to be thought a coward rather than an idiot.

Bobby Petrino is the best COLLEGE coach, hands down.
Just because he is a sleazey, two faced liar, and a coward doesn’t mean he isn’t a damn good coach.
Look at Rich Rod, Lil Napolean, and Urban. None of those three can be labeled as ethical, loyal, honest, or devoted.
Leave Petrino alone!!
He embraces the hate!!!

“Mike Zimmer = 2011 Dallas Cowboys Head Coach”
Nope. Why do you think the Bengal’s have not given Marvin an extension yet? and why do you think Mike Brown made him one of the highest paid Coordinators in the league?
Yup.

@Nate is gay for Brady …
Nick didn’t quit in the middle of the year without a word to his assistants. At least one of his assistants is with him at Bama. And he left Miami with his boss’s blessing.
Bama had put out feelers to his agent, but Saban said he couldn’t entertain an offer until the Miami season ended. He didn’t know then whether Alabama would wait. And there were powerful people at Bama against hiring Saban. The delay could easily have cost him the job.
When the press kept pushing after he said for the thousandth time that he didn’t want to discuss it, he should have told them to piss off. Instead he told them he wasn’t going to Bama. That was a mistake, but at that moment, no offer was on the table. When the season ended, Bama made the offer, he discussed it with Mr. Huizenga and took it.
The guy changed jobs. That’s his prerogative. Huizenga gave him his blessing and Miami is fine. So, for Pete’s sake, quit whining.

Hey Zimmer,
Was that the year your mighty Falcons defense ranked 29th in both yards given up and points allowed? Sorry, I wasn’t aware Michael Vick was expected to play both offense and defense for your team that year.
Seems Petrino had a little help on his way out the door.
And, isn’t it a bit “cowardly” to call a guy out in the papers, rather than calling him an MF’ing bastard “to his face”.
Looks like you got another class act there, Cincy.

I can’t lie, I like Mallett the quarterback at Arkansas, but I can’t stand Petrino.
I just don’t understand how in the world the people at Arkansas thought it was okay to hire someone that would quite on their job like that?
Especially when the team was doing as bad as Atlanta was at that time?
Petrino, its hard to look at Petrino and not second guess anything he is saying. If my son is ever able to play the game, and make it to that level, wherever Petrino is coaching, I will make sure my child looks opposite of his direction.

You’ve got to love a guy who not only calls a weasel like Petrino a “bastard”, but when told they can’t print that word, breaks out the “motherf—ker” card.
Yeah, much better, Zim!
By the way, Mike Zimmer is a man’s man for this.
*thumbs up*

ATTA BOY ZIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Loved that!!!!! for once somebody says how they really feel instead of caring about if it is politically correct or not!!! I admire that, hope you lay a a$$kickin on the falcons!!!

Petrino’s a piece of trash. Any coach who quits on his own team during a bad season deserves the insults heaped upon him. After all, a coach expects his players to give 100% and not quit. When the coach quits before the season is finished, he’s saying that he doesn’t give a damn about accountability. Players, fellow coaches, and fans have a very hard time respecting that.

# andyprough says: October 20, 2010 5:30 PM
Hey Zimmer,
Was that the year your mighty Falcons defense ranked 29th in both yards given up and points allowed? Sorry, I wasn’t aware Michael Vick was expected to play both offense and defense for your team that year.
Seems Petrino had a little help on his way out the door.
And, isn’t it a bit “cowardly” to call a guy out in the papers, rather than calling him an MF’ing bastard “to his face”.
Looks like you got another class act there, Cincy.
____________________________________-
Andy, I’ve seen both Zimmer and Petrino on TV, and from what I’ve seen I have no doubt that Zimmer would have nothing to fear from Petrino. I’ll admit I don’t know much about the Falcons defense back then (though I do know a bad offense puts the defense in a lot of bad situations and forces them to spend too much time on the field), but I do know that he’s the one that turned around what had been a horrible Bengals defense. The fact that his players would run through a brick wall for the man tells you everything you need to know about him. I can’t stand the Bengals, and I have a tremendous respect for Zimmer, as do a lot of coaches and front office personnel around the league. As for Petrino, he helped himself out the door. His job was not in jeopardy that year. The owner knew the situation he was in. In fact, when Blank heard rumors that Arkansas might be offering him the job, he called Petrino into his office and asked him flat out if he was going to stay. Petrino said yes, and less than a week later he was gone. He left without telling any of his assistants, and he left only a computer print out of the football equivalent of a Dear John letter on each player’s locker before he hightailed it out of town. That is how the team found out he was leaving mid-season. If that’s not cowardly, then I don’t know what is.

Hauschild says:
October 20, 2010 4:42 PM
Zimmer’s logic doesn’t make sense. What happens if Petrino were fired during or after the season in which he decided to bolt? That’s right – the same coaches would have lost their jobs anyway.
Any coach – much less a low-level coach – in the NFL that believes he’s guaranteed 30 years non-stop employment is an idiot.
Probably best to be thought a coward rather than an idiot.
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I have an odd feeling you’re both.

Tdk24 says:
October 20, 2010 5:50 PM
Is he talking about a football coach or every president we’ve had since WWII?
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Regardless of whether or not you’re right, this is a thread about FOOTBALL. Leave the political bull s–t at home please. Worst comment of the year.

Zim is the man! He was great on Hard Knocks, and I really felt for his family at his wife’s passing. Great scene when he brought cookies his wife made to his players because she thought he was being too mean to them…
Someone should bake Petrino some cookies…laced with Ex-Lax

Zimmer is a no-good-for-nothing, low life, pathetic excuse of a defensive coordinator. Did someone on here say that he has done a great job with the Bengals? In case you haven’t noticed, the Bengals have more losses than wins. Not something I would consider successful. As a matter-of-fact he really hasn’t done much of anything as a coach except look stupid.
Bobby Petrino, however, is one of the the most brilliant coaches ever. The SMARTEST thing he could have done a few years ago is leave the Falcons. He has brought the Razorbacks to a level that they haven’t been in a long time. Go Hogs and the rest of you can suck it!

It is a good thing that all of you like Mike Z., because noone else wants him.
Dallas coach? Hardly! Dallas has some pathetic coaches, but they are not so bad off that they would give Zimmer a call.
Sounds like a bitter coach to me. He has to down everyone else in order to build himself up.
Mike Zimmer = LOSER